Mayor Bloomberg To Make “Eight-Figure” Expenditure On State and Federal Races

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he will spend an “eight-figure” sum on local, state and federal races across the country, “with a focus on issues including gun laws and education policy.”

The effort will be headed up by Howard Wolfson, Bloomberg’s deputy mayor and former top aide to Hillary Clinton. Bloomberg, the media mogul, is one of the richest men in the country, with a net worth of $25 billion.

So it means he’ll be spending more than $10 million during the next few weeks of the campaigns.

“Over the next three weeks, the mayor will be making an eight figure independent spending campaign that will support moderates on both sides of the aisle – as well as independents – who have shown a willingness to work in a bi-partisan fashion,” the statement on Bloomberg’s website reads. “It’s critically important that we have elected officials in Washington, Albany, and around the nation who are willing to work across party lines to achieve real results.”

Gannett’s Albany Bureau reported today that Bloomberg is backing Republican Bob Cohen for election to the state Senate in Westchester County. Bloomberg also recently gave $1 million to Senate Republicans’ housekeeping account as they seek to retain their majority.

Bloomberg also gave the maximum amount, about $10,000, to each of the four Republican senators who backed same-sex marriage in New York—a measure Bloomberg heavily supports, along with gun control.

“The independent spending campaign will be the largest effort yet undertaken by Mayor Bloomberg to impact races and referenda across the country,” the statement continued.

“The campaign will target candidates who support – and oppose – efforts to crack down on illegal guns and reform education policy. It will also make contributions to marriage equality referenda. The mayor has a long history of supporting candidates and referenda that reflect his independent and non-partisan approach to government.”